They went to rival schools. And even if they didn’t play on the same field, the ties still run deep. Calvin Johnson was a star at Georgia Tech, an All-American who would go on to become the No. 2 pick of the draft. A.J. Green was a star at Georgia, an All-SEC receiver who would be the No. 4 pick of the draft. And this summer… They trained together? It’s true. And they did it at Georgia Tech, joining a group of more than 20 NFL players there. It was a pretty good deal, with Megatron taking Green under his wing. There was just one thing: Green couldn’t wear Georgia gear. “But I can live with that if I get […]

Preseason games start on Thursday night and allow me to speak for everybody when I say we are ready for some football. But let’s be honest, some of us are a little rusty. Or maybe we’re just new to the sport all together, which means the vernacular can be a little intimidating.

Have no fear, he’s a look at some preseason glossary terms that will make it much easier to watch the game.

The NFL and music have long had crossover appeal, from the “Super Bowl Shuffle” to Deion Sanders‘ hit “Must be the Money.” More recently, Kellen Winslow was a DJ at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. But Detroit Lions linebacker Justin Durant has taken a different direction, serving as a music critic for Detroit’s Metro Times. From his archives, Durant has called Curtis Mayfield‘s “Superfly” the “best soundtrack ever made.” He even made an iPod playlist to commemorate Calvin Johnson‘s huge contract. Among the selections: “Money To Blow” by Birdman ft. Drake & Lil Wayne, “I Get Money” by 50 Cent, and Shane McMahon‘s old entrance music from the WWF. And of course, that playlist would not […]

From 2007 to 2010, the Lions picked their version of the Big 3. After years and years of terrible drafting, Detroit grabbed WR Calvin Johnson second overall in 2007, QB Matthew Stafford first overall in 2009, and DT Ndamukong Suh second overall in 2010. That’s not bad. Three cornerstones. And each were in the era of massive, massive rookie deals. Slowly, that trio will look to get paid. And considering their production, all will deserve it. Megatron was first, and he’s slated to earn about $130 million over the next eight years. Figure Stafford is next, and then Suh. It’s a hefty task for the Lions in a salary cap era, though some would say a good problem. And so, […]

I thought there would be a ton to talk about at Detroit Lions minicamp, considering the kind of year the team had, the Lions’ stars, and a bunch of off-the-field things. And yeah, my head was swimming by the end. This really is a franchise on the rise, and it’s fun to watch from close up. The optimism is palpable.

In the newspaper world, the football coverage for Sunday’s paper is in the form of a notes package. In the internet world, we can do notes, too. I’ve been trying to come up with some kinda feature for Sunday on the blog, and I may tweak this going forward.

SidelinesWhat are NFL players and coaches doing when they’re not at work? From community events to appearances on shows like Dancing With the Stars and everywhere in between, NFL.com offers a sideline pass to see what’s happening off the field.